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מִצְפֻּן

𐤌𐤑𐤐𐤍

mitspun

H4710 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צפן to hide, to conceal, to store up

Definition

Something hidden, concealed, or kept secret; specifically, a storehouse, repository, or treasure that is kept in secrecy or placed out of sight. The term refers to both the act of concealing and the object or place that is hidden.

Semantic Range

a hidden thing, a secret place, a storehouse, a concealed treasure, hidden resource, something kept out of sight

Root / Etymology

From the verb צָפַן (tsafan), 'to hide, conceal, store up.' מִצְפֻּן is a noun formed with the prefix מִ– (denoting a place, instrument, or result) and the root צ-פ-ן, indicating 'that which is concealed' or 'a place/object of concealment.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

מִצְפֻּן occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Deuteronomy 33:19, where it is associated with 'the hidden treasures of the sand' (מִצְפֻּנֵי חוֹל). In context, it indicates valuable resources or treasures which are concealed or protected, possibly referring to mineral deposits or other hidden forms of wealth. The concept of secrecy is central, and it is distinct from more general terms for treasure (such as אוֹצָר) in that it emphasizes the act or state of hiding rather than mere storage. In Second Temple and Rabbinic literature, derivatives of the root often refer more generally to secrets or mysteries. English translations sometimes render מִצְפֻּן as 'hidden things' or 'treasures,' but these may not capture the nuance of concealment or the potential for a physical location of storing valuable items. There is no evidence for significant semantic shift across biblical periods; however, later Hebrew maintains and broadens the use with more abstract meanings ('secret,' 'mystery').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָפַן; a secret (place or thing, perhaps, treasure); hidden thing.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צפן (ts-p-n) — to hide, to conceal, to store up

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6827 צְפוֹן to Zephon
H6828 צָפוֹן in the north
H6829 צָפוֹן and Zaphon
H6830 צְפוֹנִי the Northerner
H6831 צְפוֹנִי the Tsephonite clansman

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4710-01 מַצְפֻּנָֽי/ו matsepunayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his hidden treasures his concealed stores 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4710-01 Obadiah 1:6 מַצְפֻּנָֽי/ו matsepunayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his hidden treasures his concealed stores
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